The chief of staff for the Huron-Perth Healthcare Alliance says physicians are being much more careful in prescribing narcotics.
Dr. Laurel Moore says they're becoming increasingly aware that most people who become addicted to narcotics got their first prescription from physician to deal with things like post-op pain or a broken bone. From there they develop a dependency on them.
She says the message they're trying to get out now is those drugs are important and they want to keep using them, but they have to be treated with respect, only used when required and then discontinued as soon as possible.
Moore also points out there are alternatives and she says medications like Advil and other similar products are just as effective as Tylenol 3 and Oxycocet and can even be combined with narcotic medications to reduce pain and reduce dependency on narcotics.
Moore also points another danger with the narcotic medications is that some people discontinue their use but keep the unused pills in their medicine cabinet where other people can find them and either use them or sell them. She stresses anyone who discontinues using them should take the unused pills back to their pharmacist.
